THE SPFL chief executive issued Record Sport with a 500-word open letter to fans after we revealed the full cost of the agreement struck with broadcasters after Rangers’ financial collapse in 2012.

Neil Doncaster: "When Rangers ceased to be a member of the SPL, broadcasters had the right to terminate the contracts immediately."

NEIL DONCASTER last night defended the “cashback” TV deal that has cost Scottish football more than £700,000 and insisted that without it there would have been catastrophic consequences.

SPFL chief executive Doncaster issued Record Sport with a 500-word open letter to fans after we revealed the full cost of the agreement struck with broadcasters after Rangers’ financial collapse in 2012.

And last night he insisted the game would have been facing a disaster had the talks failed.

In his open letter he said: “When Rangers ceased to be a member of the SPL, broadcasters had the right to terminate the contracts immediately.

“The consequences of the deal falling would have been catastrophic for every team.”

Doncaster confirmed figures reported by us yesterday while pointing out that the £725,000 “cashback” payments account for less than three per cent of TV revenue since liquidation put Rangers to the fourth tier.

He said: “Given broadcasters would incur increased costs for erecting gantries, building rigging and establishing other facilities at smaller grounds – a significant additional cost – we agreed to make a contribution.

“The extra costs were reflected in a small reduction in the deal with one broadcaster.

“Put into context, the costs of covering the extra games were less than three per cent of the annual value of the deal.”

TV giants had the right to walk away under a 10-year-old clause saying there must be four Old Firm derbies a season.

Doncaster said: “It was more than a decade ago that a clause was built into the contracts ensuring four Old Firm games per season.

“Therefore, when Rangers ceased to be a member of the SPL, the broadcasters had the right to terminate the contracts immediately.”